204 



Habits and Peculiarities 



exactly apply to those which I have seen. It is impossible for 

 any naturalist who has examined the young bottletit to over- 

 look its many peculiarities, more especially its extreme length 

 of tail. I subjoin a figure of it (Jig. 19.)» and shall proceed 

 to describe its plumage somewhat in detail. 



At the period it leaves the nest, the mandibles of the bill 

 are of equal length ; black, except the tip of the upper, 

 which is whitish, where, in the course of about six weeks, it 

 grows and curves over the under. The bill, also, appears con- 



siderably larger than in the old bird, from its base not being 

 hidden by projecting feathers : the nostrils are then exposed, 

 whereas in the adult bird they are completely covered by the 

 plumage. The irides are, at first, dull grey, like those of a 

 young cuckoo, in the course of two or three weeks becoming 

 much paler and brighter, and more inclining to blue ; then 

 gradually darkening, till, in eight or ten weeks, they assimilate 

 to the colour of the pupil, so as only to be distinguished when 

 examined closely. The colour of the bare skin around the 

 eye, at first, is brick-red, afterwards becoming very bright and 

 conspicuous (about the time the irides are darkest); the upper 

 part changing to orange yellow at the time of the autumnal 

 moult ; the under, not for several months later. Crown of the 

 head (a much larger portion of it than in the adult), together 

 with the whole under parts, and a few of the lower scapularies, 

 pure white, without a tinge of roseate, but appearing on the 

 flanks greyish, or intermixed with black; the feathers of these 

 parts being very lax and flimsy, and showing much of their 

 blackish inner portions. Ear-coverts, which in the adults are 

 whitish with a few dusky spots, dull black. Line over the eye, 

 and the whole upper parts, also black; the few white scapularies 

 forming a narrow but conspicuous white line. The wings 

 and tail marked as in the adult, but more indistinct ; the black 

 being every where more dusky than in the old bird. 



